The Criminal Divisional of the Accra High Court has ordered the former Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni, and two others to open their defence.
According to the court, presided over by Justice Clemence Honyenuga, the state has been able to establish a prima facie case against the accused persons, hence, their submission of no case had failed.
Thus, Dr Opuni, who is facing 27 accounts with Businessman Siedu Agongo and his Agricult Ghana Limited, in respect of causing the country some GH¢271.3 million in a series of fertiliser transactions, have a case to answer.
The accused persons are facing charges such as willfully causing financial loss to the state, defrauding by false pretence, contravention of procurement laws, corruption of a public officer, abetment of crime, manufacturing fertiliser without registration, and money laundry.
Justice Honyenuga, however, acquitted and discharged Siedu Agongo on counts, 22, 23 and 24, which are related to money laundring.
The accused person were given May 17 to open defence, despite Samuel Cudjoe, lawyer for the first accused person, Dr Opuni, pleading with the court to give them two weeks to prepare.
This was as the court informed the prosecution and defence teams last Friday that the full ruling would be made available on today.
The Prosecution, led by the Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, opposed the two weeks suggestion, stating four days was enough for any lawyer to prepare his client adequate to open his defence.
He prayed the court to hear the case on May 14 and 17, but the court finally settled on Monday, May 17, after the intervention of Mr Agongo’s lawyer, Nutifafa Nutsukpui.
Justice Honyenuga also urged the defence to help the court to expedite the course of the case, since it had been travelling for three years.
The Presiding Judge reminded the bar that he is a Justice of the Supreme Court, as a result the long haul of the case was taking a toll on him.
The post Court orders Dr Opuni & 2 others to open defence appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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